Saturday, July 27, 2013

Curb Appeal Increases Real Estate Values


Real estate markets in the U.S. are varied by region.  And some regions are rebounding after property values diminished several years ago. Many homes lost up to one third of their value overnight. Other regions, however, are still depressed due to a large amount of foreclosures in the area which bring down home prices in that neighborhood.  for sale signs
Many homeowners need to sell their properties, but with the prices down, and interest rates on the way up from record low rates, how can the seller get the most buyers to see this house as their new home?

Curb appeal – that element of the home that is viewed from the outside by prospective buyers.  Most buyers will drive by a listing before they actually go inside the property and 63% of those driving by will never go inside.
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So let’s see what the 37% of home buyers find attractive enough to walk in the front door. What can the seller do to make a good impression? 

Good curb appeal will tell the story of this house.  Gee, the house must be neat inside, because, look at the outside.  They have time to relax on the front porch.  Adding a sitting area will go a long way to invite folks in.
 
Many avid gardeners can go a long way to be attractive by reducing massive gardens.  To the onlooker, these gardens mean work.  They see, not only mowing, but weeding, pruning, painting, and a big commitment to the landscape.  The reminder is that not everyone likes to garden, so simplify the impression that this yard takes a lot of time to maintain.

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Personal style is another risky element to the curb appeal.  Not everyone will be drawn to your style and to limit the future buyer to a chosen few will greatly reduce the buyer pool looking for a home in the area. Appealing to ‘most’ buyers is going to pay off in a timely sale at maximum dollars.

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Exterior maintenance delayed costs money. Few buyers, if any, will want to tackle a major project like these.  The buyers may agree to a sale IF the seller fixes the problems before the sale.  So if the homeowner is going to have the expense of fixing this anyway, go ahead and present a well maintained landscape from the beginning. 
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No landscaping or dead landscaping will not lure a buyer to this property. Before putting the house on the market, spray weeds, and  water and fertilize the lawn.

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A bare landscape is just as much a turn-off  as an overgrown landscape.
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Tearing out, pruning, and weeding a landscape will show the buyers that this house is well taken care of and it shows a degree of pride in this home.

Clean up drives and walkways as well.  Edging to make crisp neat lines will show the onlooker this yard and home are not hiding any difficult maintenance issues, since the current homeowner seems to have time to keep the yard looking good.

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Another aspect of too owner specific is artwork displayed in the yard.  The seller may like his gnomes and flamingos, but removed, the curb appeal will speak to many more buyers.

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This may be charming, livable house inside, but with these shrubs hiding the front, who can tell?  Open up the view to the house by pruning, or removing overgrown plantings.

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Opening up the site of the house shows a couple of aspects that a buyer may find appealing.  The siding is in good condition, and the beds are neat, and would be easy to maintain.  That is good curb appeal.


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Clutter of any kind is a drawback to curb appeal.  These planters are another hint that this house is hard to maintain so that the yard was just too much for these homeowners.  Fence lines need to be trimmed, and clutter removed before the curb appeal has a chance to scare off too many potential buyers.


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Front doors need to be welcoming.  Power washing siding to remove dirt, mold, and spider webs, or a fresh coat of paint will say ‘come on into your new home’. 


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Good exterior lighting is another aspect of curb appeal.  Keep porch lamps on in the evenings.  A well lit exterior appears welcoming and safe. Safety is another reason to remove overgrown shrubbery around the front door.  Do not give intruders a place to hide and the prospective buyers will see a safe place to call home.

 
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Spend a few dollars to add bright, colorful plants at or near the entrance.  Power wash the walkways, or paint the porch surface for a new, clean look.

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Plant a tree.  These two homes are in the same upscale neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.  Yet the top property is valued at $10,000 more than the lower house.  Why?  The value of the landscape.  People will pay more for a wooded lot.  Trees create a sense of peacefulness and calmness.  So if a seller can add a tree to the property, that property will appear to have a greater value. 

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Curb appeal is an important aspect of selling real estate.  If the potential buyer keeps on going, there is no chance for the property to get sold.
 
Inexpensive chores like mowing, weeding, and pruning can put money in the seller’s pocket.

Adding a shrub or planter gives the landscape a finishing touch, much like a piece of jewelry does to an outfit.

The optimum time to sell is when the homeowner decides to sell. As house prices go up, and interest rates go up, make sure the curb appeal does not limit the amount of good, qualified buyers from taking an interest in the house.  

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Landscape Matures–Update on April and Adam’s Landscape Project


In 2010 I lost a large pine tree to some blight.  This opened my once shady garden into a sunny space.  So out came azalea’s, hydrangeas, pachysandra, and hostas.  To make room for sun loving plants, and create more lawn, April and Adam collected daylilies and hostas, and some other plants from my deconstruction project. 
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April collected plants and we laid out a plan for the front garden.  PA070110PA070111


In the mean time, the large pine tree in April and Adam’s front yard went the way of the chainsaw and chipper in much the same way as my pine tree.  But nature has a way of balancing out and the added sun has made this front garden a bright and colorful addition to the landscape. 


Many perennials need time to develop and mature.  The first year of a transplant the roots need to just get established.  Keeping plants evenly moist is critical during the establishment phase.  The plants will sleep, in the fact that the foliage and the blooms are not draining the transplant of needed energy to the roots. 

The second year after a perennial is in the ground, the roots creep along, become more in mass, and take in nutrients to help the plant mature.  The second year the plant will product foliage and some blooms.

But just wait!

The third season – this season for Adam and April – the perennials literally leap from the ground with a spectacular show.

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This zebra grass is surrounded by a variegated liriope.  The tall grass anchors this corner of the house without much maintenance.  A shearing to the ground in the late winter or early spring will allow new fresh foliage grow.
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This is one of the hosta that was moved, and to the front of it is this ‘Husker Red’, a full, healthy Penstemon with seed heads attached.

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With the pine tree gone, this sunny area has outdone it’s original plan. Daylilies, Hemerocallis, will produce bloom in part shade, but the added hours of sun to this garden has been a pleasant surprise.  This native spiderwort, Tradescantia was also a surprise.  The strappy foliage was mistaken as a daylily in October when this garden was planted, but the vibrant blue looks well with the yellow daylilies in bloom at this time.

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One other design feature to be pointed out is the curved walkway to the front door.  This curve, as opposed to a straight line, is more inviting to a visitor, and frames these beds well.
 
Landscapes need the time to mature, and this is a great example of waiting for the seasons to pass and reward our patience.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Garden Tours–What does this Garden Say?


Gardens have long been a destination for gardeners, plant lovers, and those who just want to see behind the fence. Tours are conducted through groups on local as well as international venues.

But what can the visitor take away from such a tour?  Let’s visit a couple of local gardens and see what these gardens have to say about the site, about the host, about the commitment to gardening, and the style or feeling the garden evokes.

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The first garden tour was the home of the Elaine and Robert Middlestetter.  As Miami Valley Hosta Society featured this garden on a lovely Saturday in July, 2013. Visitors could meander this garden and the homeowners offered explanations, descriptions, and information on the garden and plants.

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This stand of sedum is the tallest I have ever seen.  Just imagine when this is in full bloom!

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This welcoming bench invites a visitor to ‘linger – don’t rush away.’

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Shady areas had bright spots with the Brunnera, Jack Frost, and variegated Solomon’s seal, gold hosta, and iris that had bloomed earlier in the season.  The garden has taken this current form after several trees were lost, and the 30+ years have tenderly evolved into this garden as it is seen today.
 
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Color was evident in this garden, as Elaine played with red and gold in the Blood Grass and the Heuchera. Quite stunning!

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An Asian feel to the garden is appealing in this courtyard.  The wooden walkway, the rockery, and the pottery all set the atmosphere with the red door as the exclamation point to this lovely, peaceful garden.

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Across the street from the Middlestetter’s garden is another Miami Valley Hosta Society member’s garden of Tina and Richard Fox.

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Gates into a garden speak volumes to the openness or the secretiveness of the space behind it.  This double wide gate with the wood spindles at the top allows a visitor to feel welcome, and ‘take a peek’. Quite an inviting greeting!

Richard seems to have an artistic talent, and he let’s Tina cultivate and maintain the plant material.  However, I can see some artistic elements in the miniature gardens Tina has sitting around her garden. 

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This shaded pergola invites one to set awhile.

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This shade structure  was built by the homeowner Richard  when they lost a couple of large trees.  It offers shade without blocking the expanse of the area on either side.

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Water lilies were blooming on a koi pond and the fish went on a feeding frenzy when Richard offered a snack.

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Perennial borders and accents of color with annuals helps this garden feel like a warm and happy place to spend some time.

Miami Valley Hosta society offered four gardens to visit, but due to time constraints I regret I only could visit these two lovely garden.

Two gardens, two styles, two very welcoming gardens.  Thanks to Elaine and Robert Middlestetter, and Richard and Tina Fox for all of their efforts.  Kudos.